Sound-amplifying device.



J. U. ENGLISH.

SOUND AMPLIFYING DEVICE APPLIOATION FILED JUEBZQ, 1901 Patented July 22, 1913 INVEN TC)? 2 BHEETS-SEEET i.

J. G. ENGLISH.

-SOUND AMPLIPYING DEVICE.

APPLIOATZON FILED JUNE 29, 1907.

1,067,906. Patented July 22, 1913.

i155... II/01,1?

I-NVENTOR WITNES ES ATTORNEY "GEL-13H. F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 VICTGR TALKINQ fibCl-HNE ()OMPAN'R A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY,

SOUND-AMYPLIFYING DEVICE.

iii 75;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patel ted Ju 11s 22, ii 913.

Application filed Julia 29.1907 Serial 151038).268.

' w: may (rm/mm:

i Mi an that l. Jun: (l. ENGLISH, h l nilml Staiw. :in-Ll a F SMlQIIt J i \m': .lig-i-siuy. have invented vermin amwnr hm unul'mx,

mnplilier k'lilifvll'lilfllWl in nwonhinre with i L, inven'l i; Fig. 2 an enlarged PCFFQ'HP liw of llw said amplifier: and Figa. 3i. 4 and .3 2111- lmigxitmlinul (min-n1 vi i-infi l swrlinnzil vigws m" inodifiuil hum of his inwntiun.

Evian-lug in lhv lll'lHYll'lLfri. one -r-n1hmlixnenh 0f {his inwntimi is 1mm applied in a walking mznrliinu min mising: a (fiblHLl 1 having a lim-imnlul 11:1 rliliwn 2. mm whivh depmnlsa :i. inuim' 2% fur mlmting: tlnurinal tin'n-iabh l ni'iamrml ahmv lln partition 2. Abuve tlw lurnlublw. a sound lmx 5 is (211" s'ied by and iiunnnunim'tos with ihv free Slimllxl 0nd of a hollow tapering tunv arm (3, lhi' lm'g m cn l of \i'hivh i lmnml (l'lWD- Wanlly 11ml U'l;.,:-,-v(ipu$ rnlatiwly in this upper end of n, ln'ilhim vri'liivnl him-hing! T Flip purlod by and extending; llimugh thy nn-ll lion 2* A him-lief carries a pivot 59 which holds lll win? any] rulatiwly in pnsilinn.

Fm" nin; lifying the Hounds reprmilinwl by this Imuhiiiv and (leliimed tllY'UHQIiI the bushing T. flu-re is prm'hlml an improved sound am l resonator cnnsrr ictml in :icwmlanw Ah is invention. Thin amplifinr llllllldli a litingriimliually mu'vod llmlllfl siilislnmially rigid and sulishintin lly mzi i-viln'ziim l i'cicliet having :1 lnngihb \linrilly (mi 0 Eng 31 extending longitudinally n ll nigh. The npe ning i1 51$ awful llllpI'OYLl'liPIlYS in OmMli ilwiwx of which the following i (lumlni mainly of (lumlen.

lsubsstanlmlly rurmngzmir' shape: having a lmvnwnrdly and "1 M inn from :1 sulisinntiully i'in'ulnr nap: a! ii 1:? upper 01' sn'mllai and of the lvrw-hei to an whining,

through flu lninvlwi flu? substantially lim-imntnl njm' uxiF, the lime) or larger and ml the himrlmi. The upwr wnullvr' m inlw. Mn? w?" this lflfh'hli'tl is PIOYlt'lltl will; A su flange; U1" lmsw plaitv it rail lll ll j. iii, and thi; lflmihfil :iml llh my plate may he ll'SCQtl h wvhs: HY integral therewith and pi'vl'mulily extending iung i inlinnlly upon the hum 21ml iQLH siilvs nl' llw bran .(ii pmntivvlyl The: hmchvl, 10 ii: damped l'lQ} idly to the umlvr Miil'nvc nl' lliipm'iilion J by any suitable nnzim; hi1 instance, by sun-w. 12 extruding ihi mgh iln b11512 plate and into Elie pziz'litizrn. The lower in dQll My 0nd of the bracket. H) is Sligilllj. enlarged cx'lvrim'ly and intui'im'ly tn fol-iii H llmigu m sol-lint ll; whiwh in ohl ng and snlimfizul ili\ll i'vvlanglllzu in l:';s:1:-\'vi' w Ym'limil iivn and which flnrw mm bl lilvl i'mwanll in 1:. lvn-iymllal (lil l'li l'li. the aiminr Tiilllr-J- Eym'ml in any Suitable manner in thv simhet ill 0f the lll vlu't l0. lho him-1' eml (if :1 hullow lmrl v Ul' l'\'?-( l)1ll(1l' whivh 'l'mins lin: major portion or ilizliwl'y mil 2% (his. amplilltl'. the neck or inlet fill o? Whivh lf-l {mined by the lnziclwl l0. 'lhis lmily -'hnns=;i: ,i'.;.'-in this insl'mn-v. (if a sli'm'lm'v Lapwing lungrilmlinally vxlei'imlly mnl inning 12 subshintially lnn'izontal l-xnggi'nnlinnl axis f n-1n ing a forward vxlensmn m the lung imliual axis (if thv hollow ln'aivlqi ill. ln trans- Yvrsv 1 w: ival SLlllUll. {his lli ll'i in externally uhhmg and Fulmtantiully 11 ainguzluix llw inzljm' U'UHSYPIJSP axis wing; sul;-zlznitiill' lmriznntnl and parallel in ihv major umis verse axis (if the sui'livl l5). 'lln upper and verging slightly 'l'mwimill 'l hv i' lJC'llIllQ n11;- spaced in wi'i'irnl ulincim-nl and are preferably similar in slwiw and of wqual arms. Quvh lining in lhw him of :1 li' inmiml triangle. The vxfvrnnl side mills (if this hmly are, formul if hm hv-riyrninlly s'pazriil heavy and livn-ivsonnnl @nbstnniially llatf boards 01 summi'ls I l. mivli in Elie 5mm 0f 21%!" truncated triangle, which are interposed between the upper and lower external sounding boards 14, the longitudinal edges of the sounding boards overlapping and being rig idly secured to the'longitudinal edges of the side walls.

Arranged in vertical alinement between the upper and lower external sounding boards 14 and preferably diverging forward ly from the common axis of divergence of these sounding boards are a plurality of intermediate or internal sounding boards 15 similar in shape and construction to and substantially equal to in length but slightly less than in width than the external sounding boards. T heseinternal sounding boards are rigidly secured to the side Watts 16 in any suitable manner, for instance by hav-. ing their longitudinal edges glued tightly in name in rooves l6 rovided therefor in the inner surfaces of the side Walls, and preferably divide the entire interior of the resonator into a plurality of sound passages which are preferably substantially equal to each other in transverse section at any point in the length of the resonator. To permit a smooth and uninterrupted flow or transmission of sound waves from the delivery end of the hollow bracket 10 through the resonator, the inner ends of these internal sounding boards are preferably tapered and terminate in sharp horizontal edges 15, Also, for this purpose, the. inner surfaces of the inner ends of the external walls of the resonator are arranged flush with the adjacent corresponding inner surfaces of tl e bracket. The construction is such that the transverse sectional area of the incloscd spaces or inlets between the sounding boards at the point of junction with the bracket will be substantially equal to and not less than the transverse section of the opening in the bracket at substantially the same point. Each of the sounding boards 14 and 15, in this resonator is preferably constructed of a plurality of comparatively narrow oblong flat straight strips of wood of equal thicknesses and arranged in the same plane, the grain of the wood running longitudinally of the strips, and 'the strips being secured together consecutively at their longitudinal edges. Preferably the longitudinal connect; ing edge; of each pair of adjacent strips are oppositely scarfed' or acutely beveled and are overlapped and cemented together. The boards .16 forming the side walls of the resonator may also be made in the same; The sounding boards and side manner.

walls are preferably arranged so that the 5 longitudinal axes of the strips will exten d transversely of the resonator.

The talking machine casing is provided 'With the usual sound utlet closed by the usual doors 17 and Wit a cover 18 hinged as at 19 to permit access to the turn-table.

, i an ampliticr constructed in accordance with 3 In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form. of this l invention which is similar to the form here inbefore described but in which the upper and lower external sounding b aids 1;} and the intermediate sounding boards 15 are sub stantially parallel. in Fig. 4 is shown a further modified form of this invention 0011" structed as l'iQlclI'tbtfOl't. described, but in which six substantially parallel closely spaced sounding boards are-used. It has been found that good results may be ob i tained in this form even when the distance between the sounding boards is as small as one-fourth of an inch. in Fig. 5 is shown a further modification of this invention con structed as hercinbefore described, but in which seven sounding boards are used and the angle of divergence between the upper and lower external sounding boards is in creased. lt has been found that these various forms of this invention when in op eration produce different results, and that the sounds transmitted by any one of these forms may be modilied by slight variations in the angles of divergence between the sounding boards, or by varying the sound" ing boards in shape, area or thickness, or by varying the number of intermediate sounding boards used, orby varying the widths of the spaces between the sounding boards, or by other changes in the construe tion.

When in use this amplifier is preferably supported, as shown, entirely from the inlet end of the hollow bracket 10, the body porl -itl of the amplilier being entirely supported from its inlet end by the delivery end of the bracket. This permits the sounding boards to vibrate throughout substantially their entire areas, greatly increasing the sonority of the sounds transmitted through the amplifier in the spaces or passages between the sounding boards. The amplifier may be arranged, however, in any other suitable way to meet various conditions, as for instance, so that the major transverse axis of the delivery cud of the amplifier will be vertical instead of horizontal with good results.

in ap dying thisinvention the particular form to be used in any case to give the be t results mav be determined experimentally. By having-stw'cral sounding hoards spaced comparatively close together and by having t the body portion of the amplifier oblong in transverse secti n, as described. a relatively large area of sounding board surface, in proportion to the Cubic space occupictil by the amplifier. is provided. and the elticiency sot the amplilicr is increased. in any case this invention, when used in a talking ma 1 chine. is relatively compact and i clli icnt l in reducing. or practically eliminating nip l harsh. hollow, or other unpleasant qualities from the sounds transmitted and in giving a clear, brilliant, broad, and mellow quality to the reproduction.

Only a few of the various forms in which this invention may be applied have been ent of the United States is:

l. A sound amplifying device, comprising a. hear y substantially 'nonvibratory section and a. hollow vibratory body section coin municating v therewith said vibratory section comprising exterior resonant boards and interior resonant boards spaced apart from each other.

2. A sound amplifying device, eonipris ing a heavy substantially non-vibratorysec tion and a hollow vibratory body section con'un iinieating therewith, said vibratory section being composed of exterior and in terior sounding hoards having their side edges rigidly secured together and the. space between said sounding boards romnmnicat ing with said nonwibratory section.

3. An amplifying device romprising a series of resonant sounding boards. includ ing a plurality of inner sounding boards. separated at a slight distance from each other, each oi said inner sounding boards being provided with a. sharp edge at one end thereof.

el. An amplifying device comprising a plurality iii" nant sounding boards separated at a. slight. distance from each other and arranged in substantia parallel each of the boards between the outer luring provided with a sharp edge and thereof.

1.: :in an'iplifying devise, the combinairon with heavy supporting bracket provided with an opening therethrough. of a resonator comprising a series of resonant sounding boards separated at a slight disiance from each other and arranged in substantially parallel planes, and means for eonnecting the outer edges ot said boarr'is rigidly together, said boards being sup 'iorte l 1 7 of spaced intermediate sounding boards inat one end by said rigid brack t. and said series including outer ixiards and interim diate boards arranged between the outer sounding boards and provided with sharp inner edges, so that the cross sectional area hollow lmdy section (fl"l'l'illillilCizting therewith said body having exterior sides com posed of resonant sounding boards and the interior of said llmly being provided with llltell'l'lfidizllt. sounding boards of resonant material.

'7'. A sound ampl fying device eornprising a substantially non-vibriitory section and a hollow body-section comnuinieating there: with, said body ha ing exterior sides compos d of esonant sounding boards and the interior of said b dy being provided with intermediate sounding lmards also of resonant material, the passage for sound through. said sections being of mii'istantly increasing cross sectional area.

A sound amplifier talking machines comprising a hollow body portion provided with a plurality of sflmiti il si'iunding boards inclosed thereby.

9. A. sound amplifier for talking machines comprising a hollow body portion provided uith a plurality of spneed s. oding boards Enclosed thereby and extending longitudi nally thereof.

10. A sound amplifier comprising a but low body and ti sounding board inclosed thereby and dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of sound passages, said board having a. sharpened edge arranged to divide the sound waves when said amplifier in operation.

ll. A sound amplifying dev comprisinn a hollow body i-xttrioriy oblong in trans verse section and a plurality'of sounding h ards inclosed thereby and extending substantially the full width thereof.

12. A sound an'ipli'fying device comprising a hollow body extvriorly oblong in transverse seetion and a plurality of sound ing boards inclosed ll'iereby and extending substantially the full width thereof and in planes substantially parallel to a transverse.

major axis of said body.

13. A sound amplifying devu'e comprismg a hollow bo lv exteriorly oblong l1l'l"iIlS- .verse section and a plurality of sounding closed thereby.

17 A sound amplifying deviro coiuprising a hollow major portion. exterlorly oblong in transverse section and a-plurality of the spaces between the boards at their 1 jun tion with said bracke will not be less than the cross sectional area of the opening in said bracket at said point.

6. A sound amplifying device comprising a substantially non-vibratory section and a of" spaced intermediate sounding boards inclosed thereby and extending longitudinally thereof. 7

'16. A sound amplifying device comprising! a hollow major portion extoriorly ohlong in transverse section and a plurality of spaced intermediate sounding boards in closed thereby and extending longitudinally thereof and substantially the full width thereof and dividing the interior of said major portion into as many sound passages as there are intermediate sounding boards plus one.

17. A sound amplifier comprising 0ppositely disposed relatively thick and rigid exterior mils, two oppositely disposed relatively thin sounding" hoards connecting said walls'and a plurality of sounding boards arranged between said first mentioned sounding boards.

18. A sound amplitier comprising oppositely disposed relatively thick and rigid diverging exterior walls, two oppositely disposed relativrly thin parallel sounding boards eonneeting said walls and a plurality of sounding boards arranged between said first mentioned sounding boards.

19. A sound amplifier eomprising oppd sitely disposed relatively thick and rigid diverging exterior walls. two oppositely dis posed relatively thin parallel sounding boards eonnerting said walls and a plurality of sounding boards arranged between and parallel to said first mentioned sounding boards.

20. A sound amplifier comprising oppositely disposed relatively thick and narrow exterior supports, two oppositely disposed relatively broad and thin exterior sounding boards connecting said supports and a plurality of sounding boards arranged between said first mentioned sounding boards.

21. A sound amplifier eomprising oppositely disposed relatively thi lv' and narrow exterior supports. two oppositely disposed relatively broadvand thin exterior sounding boards eonneetlng said supports anda plurality of sounding boards arranged between said first mentioned sounding boards and of said sounding beards.

dividing the interior of aid amplifier into a plurality of sound pa' ages.

22. A sound amplifier comprising oppositely disp sed relatively thiek rigid exterior walls. two oppositely disposed relatively thin sounding boards eonneoting said walls. and a sounding board arranged between saiil first mentioned sounding boards and eonneeting said walls.

23. A sound amplifier comprising oppositely disposed relatively narrow supports. two oppositely disposed relatively broad sounding boards eonneeting said support. and a plurality of sounding boards spaood between said first mentioned sounding boards and conneeting said supports.

'24. A sound amplilier omprising a trans versely oblong hollow major portion e n-- sisting of "pposit'ely disposed relativi: narrow exterior spared supports. and i oppositely disposed relatively nlaid exterior sounding boards eonneoting said supl l l obznes comprising a ports, and a plurality of sounding boards spaeed between said first mentioned sound ing boards and o nneeting id supports and extending substantially the fuli width and length of said major portion.

'23. A sound amp'lilier ooinpi'ising a hotlow transversely oblong major portion pro vided with an inlet and with an outlet opposite ends respeetively. and a plurality of sounding boards inelosed by said mater portion and extending substantially the full width and length thereof and dividing the interior of said major portion into a plan rality of passages arranged to oondn-et; sound waves from said inlet to said outlet.

26. A sound amplitier having a sound passage therethrough, and a sounding board loeated within the passag and bounded by two diverging restrained edges and two tree edges, the free edges being adjaeerst to the ends of the passage.

27. A sound amplitier having a sound passage extending theretlirongh, and a sounding board lomted within the passage and bounded by two oppositely dispo ed re :23 strained edges and two oppo itelydisoosed free edges. the tree edges being :idjarrnt to the ends of the passage,

28. A sound amplifier f r talking our ehines comprising a. hollow body porti n provided with a plurality of spared ound ing boards inelosed therein am d (ting the interior of said body portion into a greater number of sound passages [ban the number of said sounding boards.

ltl. A sound amplifier f r l ehines comprising a liolloo' body n having an inlet and outl t and form sound conduit between said inlet and outlet. and a plurality of pared sounding boards in losed thereby and dividi the, interior of said body porti n into a renter number of sound pa sages than the n mber 30. A sound amplifier for talltin ma chines eomprising a hoiloa longitm lolly tapering body portion ha ing an inlet a n1 outlet and forming a sound eonduii --tweeu said inlet and said outlet. and a plurality oi spaeed sounding boards in losed thereby and dividing the interior of said body p r ti n into a greater number of utm i said sounding its boards.

23]. A sound amplilier tor tallv'iug ma 1.2:; rhinos oomprising a substantially nonvi ratory seetion, and a hollow vibratory seetion oommunieating tln-r witli. said in bratory seetion being provided with an terior sounding board forming a partiti n therein.

A sound amplifier for talking on substantiall r vibratory section, and a hollow Min-a m. sertion eonnnunioating therewith. suit bratory section being provided with interior sounding boards forming partitions therein.

33. A sound amplifier including a sounding board bounded by two opposite restrained edges, and having its remaining edges free, the sounding board being decreased in thickness along one of its free edges.

34. A sound amplifier including a sounding board bounded by two opposite diverging restrained edges and two free edges, and being decreased in thickness along its shorter free edge.

35. A sound amplifier including a hollow body having a sound passage therethrough and a sounding board within said passage, said sounding board having oppositely disposed, restrained edges and being supported thereb in said body, the remaining edges of sai sounding board being free to vibrate.

36. A sound amplifier comprising a hollow body having a sound passage therethrough, elongated in transvbrse section, and a'sounding board disposed within said body in the direction of said elongation.

37. A sound amplifier comprising a hollow body having a sound passage therethrough, elongated in transverse section, said body having its major transverse axis considerably greater than its minor transverse axis, and a sounding board disposed within the said body in the direction of said major transverse axis.

38. A sound amplifier comprising a hollow body having a sound passage therethrough, elongated in transverse section, said body having its major transverse axis considerably greater than its minor transverse axis, and a sounding board disposed across said sound passage and of greater width than the minor transverseaxis of said body.

39. A sound amplifier comprising a holrespect to low body having a sound passage there through, elongated in transverse section, a

sounding board disposedv within said body in the direction of said elongation and (Iividing said passage into a plurality of sound conduits. and means adjustable with said body and arranged to extcnd across the delivery ends of all of said conduits to modify the sound issuing there from. a

40, A sound amplifier comprising a hollow body having a sound passage the ethrough. elongated in transverse section, said body having 'its major transverse axis considerably greater than its minor transverse axis, a sounding boarddisposedwithin said body in the direction of saidmajor transverse axis and dividing said passage into a plurality of sound conduits, and a. member adjustable with respect to said body and arranged to extend across the delivery ends of all of said conduits to modify the sound issuing therefrom- 41. A sound amplifier comprising a hollow body having a sound passage therethrough, elongated in transverse section, said body having its major transverse axis considerably greater than its minor trans verse axis, a sounding board disposed within said body in the direction of said majortransverse axis and dividing said passage into a lurality of sound conduits, and a sound eflecting member mounted to swing abouta predetermined axis with respect'to said body and arranged to extend across the delivery ends of all of said conduits to act upon the sound issuing therefrom.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of June, 1907.

J OHN C. ENGLISH \Vitnesses:

Ansrox B. MoALToN,

ALEXANDER PARK. I 

